Legislature(1999 - 2000)
05/05/1999 09:09 AM Senate FIN
| Audio | Topic |
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
MINUTES
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
May 5, 1999
9:09 AM
TAPES
SFC-99 # 121, Side A and Side B
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Torgerson convened the meeting at approximately
9:09 AM.
PRESENT Senator John Torgerson, Senator Loren Leman,
Senator Pete Kelly, Senator Randy Phillips, Senator Dave
Donley, Senator Gary Wilken, Senator Lyda Green, Senator Al
Adams.
Also Attending:
DAN SPENCER, Chief Budget Analyst, Office of Management and
Budget, Office of the Governor; BOB POE, Commissioner,
Department of Administration; ALISON ELGEE, Deputy
Commissioner, Department of Administration; DEBORAH
SEDWICK, Commissioner, Department of Commerce and Economic
Development; PETER FREER, Supervisor, Southeast Regional
Office, Division of Municipal Assistance, Department of
Community and Regional Affairs; DWAYNE PEEPLES, Director,
Division of Administrative Services, Department of
Corrections; CHRIS CHRISTENSEN, Staff Council, Alaska Court
System; MIKE CONWAY, Director, Division of Statewide Public
Service, Department of Environmental Conservation; DAN
EASTON, Director, Division of Facility Construction and
Operation, Department of Environmental Conservation; KAREN
REHFELD, Director, Education Support Services, Department
of Education; KEVIN BROOKS, Director, Division of
Administrative Services, Department of Fish and Game; WAYNE
REGELIN, Director, Division of Wildlife Conservation,
Department of Fish and Game; JANET CLARKE, Director,
Division of Administrative Services, Department of Health
and Social Services; NANCY DAVIS, Chief, Nursing Section,
Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Social
Services; REMOND HENDERSON, Director, Division of
Administrative Services, Department of Labor; NICO BUS,
Administrative Services Manager, Division of Support
Services, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and
Department of Natural Resources; KEN BISCHOFF, Director,
Division of Administrative Services, Department of Public
Safety; and Colonel JOHN GLASS, Director, Division of Fish
and Wildlife Protection, Department of Public Safety; LARRY
PRIESLY, Special Assistant to the Commissioner, Department
of Revenue; PETER BUSHRE, Chief Financial Officer, Alaska
Permanent Fund Corporation, Department of Revenue; JOHN
MALLONEE, Assistant Director, Child Support Enforcement
Division, Department of Revenue; JOHN BITTNEY, Legislative
Liaison, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Department of
Revenue; JEWEL JONES, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation;
WENDY REDMOND, Vice President, University Relations,
University of Alaska; TRACY CARPENTER, Fiscal Analyst,
Division of Legislative Finance;
Attending via Teleconference: From Anchorage: JEFF JESSEE,
Executive Director, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority.
SUMMARY INFORMATION
SB 31-MENTAL HEALTH APPROPRIATIONS
The committee heard testimony from the Alaska Mental Health
Trust Authority on the impact of the proposed budget. The
recommendations of the capital budget subcommittee were
forwarded to the conference committee on HB 50 and HB 51.
SB 32-CAPITAL BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS
The committee heard testimony from the departments on the
impact of the committee substitute. The bill was held in
committee.
SENATE BILL NO. 31
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
capital expenses of the state's integrated
comprehensive mental health program; and providing for
an effective date."
Co-Chair John Torgerson we will begin with the mental
health budget capital appropriations.
JEFF JESSEE, Executive Director, Alaska Mental Health Trust
Authority, Department of Revenue, testified via
teleconference from Anchorage. One of the major items in
the mental health capital budget was the API-2000 FACILITY
REPLACEMENT. Two portions of the project were projected
for FY00. One was the authorization for $7 million in
federal receipts that the trust was working with the
Governor's office and US Senator Stevens to include in a
federal appropriation. That would be matched with $2
million of mental health trust authorized receipts. The
purpose of the two funding sources was to complete the
demolition of the old buildings. Current plans for the
replacement of the Alaska Psychiatric Institution, had not
to date included a funding mechanism for demolition of the
current facility when it becomes a toxic waste storage
facility after its life as a mental institution.
Originally the $225,000 for API STOP-GAP REPAIRS - keeping
the facility operational during the transition to a
different use - was slated to be done with general funds.
However, in an effort to assist the state with the goal of
closing the fiscal gap, the Trust agreed to use mental
health trust funds.
The next item was HOUSING MODIFICATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH
SPECIAL NEEDS. This was a match program that included both
$150,000 of general fund/mental health fund and $250,000
from AHFC receipts. This program was to make home
modifications to assist individuals in their ability to
remain in their homes and community as long as possible. He
gave examples of some of the projects.
PROGRAM FACILITITES DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITIES ACT UPGRADES was the next item. This program
was to give opportunities to nonprofit programs with their
necessary state-owned facility upgrades.
Next addressed was the MENTAL HEALTH TRUST BENEFICIARY
EQUIPMENT. This program was made up of $50,000 in gf/mh and
$100,000 of mhtaar. This was an increase in the in-part
contribution. The main purpose of this program was to allow
nonprofit organizations to meet their continuing equipment
needs. The funds generally were distributed in small
amounts but allowed the programs to continue particularly
those smaller organizations in rural areas.
The MENTAL HEALTH TRUST OFFICE LAND MANAGEMENT AND
ENHANCEMENT capital amount of $660,000 from trust
authorized receipts were the next item in the mental health
budget. This was what the trust land office used to prepare
trust lands for development. For example, Jeff Jessee
referred to a timber sale that needed to be laid out. Also,
work needed to be done in subdivisions to determine the
proper plat approval. Much of the money was used for
contractual services. A fair amount of the money was used
to contract with the Department of Natural Resources, with
whom the trust land office had developed a successful
relationship. This was not a pot of money just handed over
to the land office; there was a specific work plan, which
tied all the funds to specific activities on trust land
with measurable performance criteria upon which they were
measured.
AHFC HOMELESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM included $250,000 from
AHFC receipts matched by $200,000 of mental health trust
receipt. The point of this program was to develop long-term
housing options and support for individuals who were
chronically homeless. This was part of a twenty-year plan
to break the cycle of recidivism to services that were not
very affective and costly, and get them into permanent
housing.
AHFC BENEFICIARY AND SPECIAL NEEDS HOUSING was the core of
the mental health housing initiative. The Alaska Housing
Finance Corporation had done an excellent job of working
with the Trust and the Department of Revenue to get housing
funds linked to operating dollars so that the Trust could
maximize the resources of the housing agents, according to
Jeff Jessee.
The last item was the COORDINATED TRANSPORTATION AND
VEHICLES. This had been originally proposed as a match.
Now it would be strictly funded with $300,000 mental health
funds. Instead of purchasing individual vans for each
nonprofit, this program assisted communities to develop
coordinating systems with centralized dispatch,
maintenance, liability coverage, etc.
Senator Randy Phillips wanted to know if the $7 million in
federal funds for the API-2000 facility was secure or
simply anticipated. What would happen if the federal funds
were not allocated? Jeff Jessee responded that the federal
budget process was not complete. However, this project was
on the Governor's priority list for the US Senator to
address. The Trust anticipated it would be funded and did
not foresee any problems. If it were not included in the
federal budget then all parties would need to gather to
rethink how the facility would be demolished. He noted
that under the settlement, the state was obligated to
remove any toxic materials from state land.
Senator Randy Phillip's next question addressed the
Homeless Assistance Program. He asked how old the program
was. Jeff Jessee answered it was older than the three and
one-half years he had been familiar with it. Senator Randy
Phillips wanted brief examples of what projects were done
in the past. Jeff Jessee felt a good example was women's
programs that provided residential placement for homeless
women who were alcoholics. Also, there had been grantees in
Kenai, Fairbanks, Mat-Su and the Aleutians who used the
funds for emergency shelters, to develop transitional
housing and provide case management and rental assistance.
It was spread out not only geographically, but also some
was done by local governments, some by regional housing
authorities and some by non-profit organizations. AHFC
actually ranked the applications for projects, and the
members could review that information, Jeff Jessee pointed
out.
Senator Dave Donley asked for explanation of the obligation
for clean up of the toxic waste. Jeff Jessee said that
under the settlement, the Trust took title to the ground
under the API facility. The facility was still owned by the
state. There was an inter-agency land management agreement
between the Department of Natural Resources and the
Department of Health and Social Services regarding the use
of that property. Once this ceased to be a mental health
facility the question was what was to be done once it no
longer had a useful life. It was the Trust's position that
the intent of the settlement was that clean up of abandoned
buildings was the state's responsibility. It would be
expensive to maintain these facilities as a toxic waste
storage facility, which it would be because of the great
amount of waste present. Therefore, it would be cheaper to
demolish the building sooner.
Senator Dave Donley offered a motion to move the project
recommendations of the Senate Finance Capital Budget
Subcommittee for SB 31 from the Senate Finance Committee to
the Conference Committee on the Budget for inclusion into
HB 51. There was no objection and Co-Chair John Torgerson
ordered the report prepared for the Conference Committee.
SENATE BILL NO. 32
"An Act making and amending capital appropriations and
reappropriations and capitalizing funds; and providing
for an effective date."
The committee began to hear testimony from the departments
on the impacts of the proposed appropriations.
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
KEVIN BROOKS, Director, Division of Administrative
Services, Department of Fish and Game testified. He
addressed four projects that were reduced or eliminated in
the subcommittee report.
The department's highest priority was the STATEWIDE
FACILITIES DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. Kevin Brooks pointed out
that this and two of the other requests addressed deferred
maintenance. It was important to the department to ensure
the life, health and safety of the employees as well as
members of the public who might visit department
facilities. The request for this project was for $400,000,
which would have addressed only ten-percent of their
identified need. That amount had been reduced to only
$200,000. The ability to address the projects was severely
impaired.
VESSEL AND AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR, was the second
deferred maintenance project not granted at the requested
level. Only a fraction of the identified need was included
in the original request for $200,000. The subcommittee
approved only half that amount. The department would need
to ground aircraft before placing employees at risk, he
warned.
DOCK REPAIR MAINTENANCE AND REPLACEMENT was not funded at
all in the subcommittee report. The King Salmon facility
was the most critical and was used by both the department
and the Department of Public Safety. Engineers' reports
confirmed the need for repair.
The final item Kevin Brooks addressed was the SOUTHEAST
REGION VESSEL MAINTENCE SHOP. He explained that the Mental
Health Trust Authority had selected the current facility
under the land settlement agreement and the department
would soon be evicted. It would take at least a year to
build a replacement. The department also used the space for
vessel and other equipment storage. Other state agencies
housed operations in that facility as well. He noted that
the Trustee's had an obligation to find the greatest return
on the use of that land and the current use was not it.
Senator Randy Phillips wanted to know if the department
could utilize funding from the Exxon Valdez settlement.
Kevin Brooks said that was not an option because the funds
had to be used only in Prince William Sound. There was
discussion about the location of the requested projects. It
was stated that the use of the EVOS funds was carefully
audited.
Senator Loren Leman noticed the witness did not comment on
either the Katchemak Bay or the Upper Cook Inlet research
programs and asked if the research projects were a lower
priority. Kevin Brooks responded that the department felt
the Upper Cook Inlet research while important, was not as
critical as the deferred maintenance needs.
Senator Dave Donley asked if since the overall funds would
be reduced, it would be more helpful to simply place all
the deferred maintenance funding in one line item to allow
the department to choose which projects to address. Kevin
Brooks appreciated the suggestion but stated that the
proposed $300,000 would not be adequate to fund the King
Salmon Dock. That project had been separated out because it
was larger than could be included in the general request.
Co-Chair John Torgerson referred to front section language
in Section 10 of the bill. Kevin Brooks explained that
section detailed the rise in revenues created by the
increased fees for commercial fishing crewmember licenses.
The department had anticipated those revenues would be used
for funding capital projects. He said adjustments might
need to be made. Co-Chair John Torgerson asked the witness
to review the language in SB 146 and let his office know if
any changes needed to be made to fulfill the intent of the
Legislature.
Senator Al Adams thought the adjustments for compensating
the vendors had been made in SB 146. Kevin Brooks said that
the adjustments had been made but this addressed more of
the mechanics of implementation because of accounting
rules, certain recording methods must be followed.
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
DWAYNE PEEPLES, Director, Division of Administrative
Services, Department of Corrections testified. He
addressed two items.
MAINTENANCE, RENOVATION, REPAIR, RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT
was a $900,000 general fund request that had been reduced
to only $450,000. Dwayne Peeples testified that the
department operated thirteen correctional facilities across
the state. The approximate replacement value of the
facilities would be $320 million. He detailed the number of
bookings and inmates served in the facilities each year,
noting that this had a high impact. He also added that the
facilities were in constant use 24 hours a day, 365 days a
year. The current deferred maintenance, renovation, repair
and replacement list exceeded $34 million. Of that amount,
$13 million was for deferred maintenance. With the proposed
allocation, the department would only be able to perform
emergency repairs. This had been the pattern for the last
several years and the department had only barely been able
to maintain the facilities. The reduced allocation in FY00
would stress the department and curtail the ability to
maintain the facilities at the current capacity, he warned.
The other request Dwayne Peeples addressed was for $250,000
for security EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT. The subcommittee
reduced that amount to $125,000. The department identified
over $2 million in needed replacement items. This would
only address minimal emergency repairs.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
KEN BISCHOFF, Director, Division of Administrative
Services, Department of Public Safety; and Colonel JOHN
GLASS, Director, Division of Fish and Wildlife Protection,
Department of Public Safety came to the table to speak to
the impact of the proposed budget.
The first item addressed was the Division of Public Safety
request for $537,500 for KODIAK VESSEL REPLACEMENT. Colonel
John Glass spoke of his experience with the division and
the efforts made with the Legislature to replace the older
vessels throughout the state. He specifically noted the
need to replacement the vessel in Kodiak. The requested
funding for this purchase would be accompanied by
approximately $200 revenues generated by the sale of older
boats. He listed some of the operations the vessel would be
used for.
The next item was the $1 million reduction to the AIRCRAFT
AND VESSEL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR. The subcommittee
recommended funding $500,000, which would have to be split
between the aircraft and vessels owned and operated by the
department. Colonel John Glass told of the locations of
the aircraft patrol areas. He stressed that it would be
almost impossible to maintain the 43 aircraft owned by the
department with only $250,000. As a result, five aircraft
would probably have to be grounded. He detailed the repairs
needed by those aircraft and listed their locations in
Palmer, Craig and McGrath.
The FISH AND WILDLIFE EQUIPMENT request had been reduced by
$125,000. This funding was planned for the purchase of a
riverboat for the Fairbanks region and a snowmachine for
Cantwell. He shared with the members, news he had received
that morning about and aircraft engine had just failed.
This aircraft supported the VPO program in Western Alaska.
The replacement cost of that engine was $35,000 and the
airplane would be grounded until the engine was replaced.
Failure to make these equipment replacements and repairs
would essentially put the division out of business, he
warned. He noted that most of the division's operations
were performed off-road and were essential to maintaining
the renewable fish and wildlife resources in the state.
Senator Randy Phillips asked about the collection of fines
through fish and game violations. He wanted to know how
much money was collected. Ken Bischoff respond that money
could only be used for operating expenses not for capital
projects.
Senator Al Adams felt that any earnings from forfeited
equipment or fines should be available for use for capital
projects. Ken Bischoff responded that the language did not
allow that and said the attorney general's office could
better address the reasons why.
Senator Randy Phillips wanted to know if there were more
fish and game violations this year than last year. Colonel
John Glass believed there was an increase in violations,
but noted there was also an increase in staff to patrol and
discover the violations.
Senator Loren Leman wondered if aircraft could be leased
instead of purchased. Colonel John Glass said the division
could not lease because there were no SuperCub aircraft
available and no one willing to lease to the division due
to the risk and liability involved. To use a different
aircraft that might be available for lease would not be
cost effective. It would cost more money to lease rather
than buy. An example was a leased Cessna 206 used in Bethel
for ten years. In that time, the division could have bought
nine aircraft with the money spent on the lease.
(Miscellaneous committee conversation.)
Senator Randy Phillips returned to the issue of violations
and noted the high number of violations probably had been
occurring all along but were not discovered until more
officers had been available to patrol. Colonel John Glass
responded that was correct.
Senator Pete Kelly asked for clarification of the amount of
the vessel and aircraft maintenance and repair request.
Senator Randy Phillips asked the number of staff in the
division to enforce the fish and wildlife laws. Trooper
Glass responded that there were 89 commissioned officers
hired to enforce 586,000 square miles and 33,000 miles of
coastline.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
JANET CLARKE, Director, Division of Administrative
Services, Department of Health and Social Services was
invited to join the committee. She reviewed the impact
statement focusing on three projects.
The subcommittee had recommended $300,000 of the $750,
request for DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, RENEWAL, REPLACEMENT AND
EQUIPMENT. The Department of Health and Social Services had
35 state-owned facilities with a replacement value of over
$200 million. The deferred maintenance needs were
calculated at over $3 million. This request would provide
funding for only twelve percent of the documented need. She
noted most of their facilities operated 24-hours a day;
however, only the most serious life, health and safety
issues could be addressed. A list of projects had been
provided showing what the deferred maintenance funds would
be used for. It was the unknown expenditures, such as a
boiler that could fail, that was the biggest problem. She
had very serious concerns with the condition of many
facilities.
The next item of discussion was the request for $200,000
for FAMILY SERVICES FIELD SAFETY, OFFICE AND TRANSPORTATION
EQUIPMENT. This was a request for equipment for the
Division of Family and Youth Services that was broken into
two sections. The first was for radios and cell phones for
social workers. She explained the division had many social
workers that went into remote areas and intervened with
individual lives with potential serious circumstances. The
social workers needed the ability to contact someone, such
as law enforcement, for assistance if a situation worsened.
Over the years, the department discovered that the division
had not provided adequate equipment for the social workers
as they went into the field.
The second portion of the request was for vehicles with the
division. Janet Clarke noted that many of the social
workers used their own vehicles to go out on investigations
and home visits. For example in the Mat-Su office there
were 11 people sharing one state-owned vehicle. She warned
of the liability issues and that the department did not
want the social workers to be targeted because they were
required to use their own vehicles for state business. She
believed this to be an emergency situation.
The final Department of Health and Social Services request
addressed was $100,000 for PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING WIDE AREA
NETWORD AND COMPUTER UPGRADE. The Public Health Nurses
program had been fortunate over the past several years in
that they were able to link their system with the federal
government for case management information. As patients
moved from one location to another, the patient records
could be accessed on the centralized system of another
public health nurse center. Janet Clarke told the committee
this service allowed for tracking and treating outbreaks of
certain illnesses.
The Alaska Native Health Tribal Consortium notified the
division that they would no longer provide the data
transmission services at no charge. On an annual basis, the
cost would be between $140,000 and $170,000. The $100,000
in this request would allow the establishment of an
independent network and eliminate the reliance on the
consortium.
Tape: SFC - 99 #121, Side B 9:57 AM
She continued by saying that this request would have paid
for itself in the first year.
Senator Lyda Green asked if it was true that some people
obtained their health care from the public health nursing
over many years. That was Janet Clarke's understanding.
NANCY DAVIS, Chief, Nursing Section, Division of Public
Health, Department of Health and Social Services came to
the table and answered that was true. This was primarily
the case in rural areas where public health nurses had been
the consistent health professional visitors. She said some
records dated back to territorial days.
Senator Lyda Green then wanted to know if those records
were not deposited in a hospital or other clinic. Nancy
Davis said the public health nurses kept the records. She
explained that the public nurses provided care across
Alaska for natives and non-natives. When there was a
communicable disease or other public health situation,
public health nursing was the standard deliverer of those
services. They worked closely with hospitals, local
providers, and tribal health entities to do that.
Senator Lyda Green asked if that was the case for
Anchorage, Fairbanks and the Mat-Su area Nancy Davis
replied had its own municipal health department and the
state provided some grant support. In Mat-Su and Fairbanks,
the state public health nurses performed those services.
ALASKA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION (DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE)
JOHN BITTNEY, Legislative Liaison, Alaska Housing Finance
Corporation, Department of Revenue testified. The board was
currently holding a board meeting in Juneau and he
introduced some of the members who were present.
The reductions recommended by the subcommittee to the
corporation were significant. The $38 million request was
reduced by $31.2 million. John Bittney addresses some of
the projects.
The first was the $9 million SUPPLEMENTAL HOUSING GRANT
PROGRAM that was completely eliminated. He described the
services provided by the program to leverage HUD Indian
Housing funds to regional housing authorities. The
corporation provided twenty percent of construction costs,
utility hookups, site development costs, water and sewer
hookups, and energy efficiency designs.
The LOW INCOME WEATHERIZATION was reduced from $4 million
to only $1 million. The program had been steadily reduced
over the past several years. With this level of reduction,
John Bittney calculated that about 476 of the 850 planned
homes would not be weatherized. The corporation had
indication that there could be some problems with obtaining
federal matching funds. If that were the case,
approximately $600 federal funds would be lost.
The corporation had requested funding five grants for the
SENIOR CITIZENS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM. A total
of $4 million was eliminated in the subcommittee's
recommendation. Under this budget proposal there would be
no grants available for senior housing development in
Naknek, Wasilla, Talkeetna, Ketchikan and Homer. The impact
spoke for itself, John Bittney said. He wanted to know what
the Legislature intended them to do with the programs in
future years without the funding. Would the programs be
rolled into next year's grants? Should the corporation
continue to try to develop senior housing? They were unsure
and concerned about the future of the program. They would
continue to work with the communities to realize these
projects.
The SENIOR/STATEWIDE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND RENOVATION
request had been cut in half from the original $3.5 million
amount. This was the major maintenance line item where a
variety of smaller maintenance projects for all the public
housing facilities. This did not include major renovation
or overhaul projects.
John Bittney noted that all of the public housing project
major renovation projects were completely eliminated. These
were the PHASE II MOUNTAIN VIEW/MOUNTIAN VIEW ANNEX; PHASE
II PARKVIEW MANOR; SOUTHHALL MANOR RENOVATION; RIVERBEND
MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING; and PHASE III CENTRAL
TERRACE/FAIRMOUNT RENOVATION.
He spoke to the use of the corporations bonding ability to
fund deferred maintenance needs for the remainder of the
state. This was done in the previous session under SB 360.
The corporation was asked to use its own line of credit to
issue bonds to assist the state with its own deferred
maintenance needs. He said there was concern on Wall Street
about the removal of the corporation's ability to keep up
its own facilities while paying for other projects. The
residents were the ones who would suffer. The lost
revenues and costs associated with delaying a project were
shown in the impact statement.
The ENERGY EFFICIENCY MONITORING RESEARCH program was also
eliminated. John Bittney explained this was a $350,000
corporate receipt request to work with state homebuilders
to establish a method to generate data on the energy
efficiency standards. The standards were mandated by
statue for homes with mortgages purchased by AHFC and
resulted in an extra cost for the builder and the consumer.
Currently, there was no data from Alaska and very little
from Canada to show how the systems performed.
The final item addresses was the BUILDER AND RATER
EDUCATION. State law required a minimum energy rating
standard for any newly built home before AHFC could
purchase the mortgage. This program allowed the
corporation to train and certify raters so the homes could
be rated to ensure those standards were met. Without this
program, the corporation was unsure how it could meet the
mandate.
Senator Randy Phillips wanted to know how many units would
be affected by the Senior Housing Grant program
elimination. John Bittney answered 57 units.
Senator Lyda Green wanted to know if each of the applicants
for the Senior Housing Grant program provided information
of other grants and funds they received that were
contingent on this funding. John Bittney said they had and
he could provide that information to the committee. He
broke the information down by project.
JEWEL JONES, Co-Chair, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
commented. She gave a history of the merger of the
corporation with the public housing division. The
corporation received accolades from Wall Street and
communities across the state that the corporation was
accomplishing its mission, which was housing. She stated
that the corporation was part of the state and wanted to
assist the state. However, the current 81 percent funding
cut would hurt individuals. She listed names of people who
used the corporation's services. "We can not ask people to
continue to live in public housing projects that we cannot
do the maintenance. That's not right and that's not fair."
Public testimony was submitted requesting that the Low-
Income Weatherization project not be cut. These people
would have to pay extreme and extraordinary energy costs
because of the lack of weatherization projects, according
to Jewell Jones.
Every day the corporation heard from seniors saying they
needed more housing and more options. More seniors came to
Alaska every day and needed these projects, she testified.
Senator Al Adams noted that the intent of the Legislature
with the capital budget was to meet the maximum amount of
federal match. He wanted to know the match ratio on
supplemental housing. John Bittney answered $9 was provided
in the supplemental budget that was intended to cover
twenty percent of the cost. Therefore, the match was five
to one. The corporation had asked HUD to provide an outline
of the federal funding available under this program.
Senator Al Adams said that five-to-one match could get the
state $45 million. He hoped it would be considered.
Senator Gary Wilken said the information provided showed
the $9 million request but zero federal funds. It appeared
that it was not a required match. He wanted to know if
that was the case. John Bittney explained that AHFC
provided the grant to the regional housing authority and
they applied those dollars directly to HUD. The corporation
was not the pass-through agent for the federal dollars.
Senator Gary Wilken suggested that in the future, if
general funds did leverage federal funds in any manner, the
information be provided.
Senator Dave Donley pointed out that testimony given in the
full committee stated that this program underwent a change
this year. Last year it was a required match program, but
this year it was no longer required. He noted that while it
might facilitate federal fund appropriation it was not
mandatory. John Bittney offered to provide the federal
statute that stated the senator was essentially correct.
There was not a stipulated dollar match required. Instead,
HUD recognized the tribes across the state and provided
housing funding to them. Each tribe received an allocation
of a block grant from HUD. In these cases, the tribes chose
to have the housing authorities continue to administer the
program on their behalf rather than accept the grants
directly. The housing authorities had the administrative
network established to operate the programs.
The federal statute dictated that there was a cost per unit
cap on the number of HUD dollars that could go into each
housing unit. The supplemental dollars requested here would
allow for additional costs that the cap would not cover.
That included the site development costs, utilities hook-
up, etc. The housing authorities had to show HUD that the
funds were in place to complete the project in order to
receive the federal funds. If it there were not adequate
funds to complete the project, HUD would not grant the
funds.
Senator Dave Donley noted there was a program called AHFC
federal and other competitive grants. If there was a
particularly good project, why couldn't it be funded under
this program? Jewel Jones said Anchorage participated with
matching grants to AHFC. However, AHFC had a mission to
secure affordable housing in rural Alaska. Funding was
available on the federal side, but the matching funds had
to be provided. It was a three-way partnership with the
regional authority i.e. the tribes, the federal government
and the State Of Alaska.
Senator Dave Donley said it was not really a required match
program although it may leverage federal funding. Jewel
Jones said it was a leverage and was necessary and
important to be there, however it was categorized. Senator
Dave Donley argued that it was only necessary and important
if the project had the additional expenses involved. If the
project could live within the HUD allocated cost, the
additional funds would not be necessary.
Senator Lyda Green wanted to know if there was a
requirement in the language to the grant recipient stating
that the funds would be used when applying for federal
funds. John Bittney said there was and detailed. AHFC
reviewed the planned project and knew where the funds would
be spent once the appropriation was received.
Senator Al Adams wanted to know an estimate of the
percentage of the federal funds that returned to urban
areas of the state in the form of labor or materials. John
Bittney felt it was far more than half.
ALASKA COURT SYSTEM
CHRIS CHRISTENSEN, Staff Council, Alaska Court System,
noted that none of the four requested projects had been
funded in the CS.
EQUIPMENT FOR COMPLETION OF THE AUTOMATED CASE MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM was a $1.3 million request. A delay in funding this
project would postpone the implementation of an integrated
case information and processing system. Currently the
courts were using a software system designed in 1981 and in
many court locations using hardware that was two
generations old to process case information.
This was a very labor-intensive operation. There were many
Range 8 and Range 10 clerk positions because there was not
a modern computer system to handle the paperwork. For
example, there was millions of dollars of trust money in
the court's account that had to be accounted for completely
by hand because the existing computer system could not do
double entry accounting.
Every year, the court has to come and ask for more clerk
positions because of the lack of automation. This would
delay the automation by at least one more year and continue
the existing problems.
The second request was for $4 million for DEFERRED
MAINTENANCE PROJECTS. Four of the six listed projects were
for roof replacements. Leaky roofs were the worst deferred
maintenance needs to put off because of the other damage
they cause.
The next request was for $1 million for COURT SECURITY
PROJECTS. Assaults and other violent conduct had become
increasingly common at courthouses nationwide. Except for
the Anchorage courthouse, court buildings around the state
were designed in a different era when security was not a
big concern. More members of the general public used the
facilities each day than any other state agency except
perhaps the university. The state had a duty to provide a
safe and secure environment for these people. Without this
funding, the current level of risk would be present for
court staff, jurors, and other courthouse users. He
believed the current level of risk was unacceptable.
STATEWIDE COURT BUILDING CODE/ENERGY UPGRADE was the last
item and requested $400,000. There were eleven courtrooms
at six locations around the state that were out of
compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Delay
in funding these projects exposed the state to potential
litigation from users or public interest groups.
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
There was no one present to testify on behalf of the budget
recommendations for the Office of the Governor.
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS
PETER FREER, Supervisor, Southeast Regional Office,
Division of Municipal and Regional Assistance, Department
of Community and Regional Affairs testified.
The first item was the request for the FLOOD MITIGATION
ASSISTANCE GRANTS. Peter Freer detailed the services
provided under this program that served approximately 30
communities. He noted this cost no general funds only
federal funds.
These are 100 percent federal funds made as a grant to the
State Of Alaska from FEMA, the Federal Emergency management
Agency. Funds were re-granted by the department to
municipal governments on a three to one match basis to
prepare Flood Mitigation Plans. Municipalities already
having flood Mitigation Plans could use the funds for
project activities such as elevating, acquiring or
relocating structures in danger of flood damage. The
$350,000 represented the department's receipt authority.
The funds were pass-through only, with no funds retained
for administrative costs. Without these funds the
Department could not work with cities and boroughs to
provide for flood mitigation planning, and to undertake
projects that reduced or eliminated damage to property.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE GRANTS. These were widely used
to leverage funds for other projects.
The RDA grant program was funded for almost forty years
from the state general fund until three years ago; when
funding for the program was eliminated. RDA funds provided
a source of flexible capital up to $100,000 for rural
communities to use on a variety of basic local projects
such as landfill fencing, construction of a washeteria, or
acquisition of fire fighting or EMS equipment. Demand for
the funds historically had been many times greater than the
amount of funds available. Neither the Capital Matching
Grant program nor the RDA Mini-Grant program offered a one
to one replacement for these funds. In the former case,
the amounts available to rural communities were smaller;
hence more limited in use; in the latter case, funds were
pass-through grants from the US Department of Agriculture
and must be used according to federal program requirements.
ARCTIC WINTER GAMES TEAM ALASKA was an ongoing program that
had been funded for many years in varying amounts.
The arctic games occurred every two years, with the next
games taking place in March 2000 in Whitehorse, Yukon
Territory. This organization had been funded historically
through this department since 1988 in amounts ranging from
$73,300 to $610,000. The higher figures were for years that
Alaska hosted the games. For FY99 they received a total of
$155,000 and were asking for an additional $75,000 for the
year 2000 games. These funds would be used primarily in
two areas: 1) coordinating teams and coaches for
participation in the games, negotiating transportation
costs, purchasing uniforms, and similar activities, and 2)
paying annual dues to the International Committee. Failure
to provide funding could affect state participation in the
games next March if Team Alaska was unable to pay the
annual dues in November of this year.
The final item for the department was the ALASKA NATIVE
HERITAGE PARK. The park opened just last weekend. It
received only one state appropriation in 1990. This would
permit the grant earnings to be used. If not given, would
require the facility to obtain a bank loan.
Located in Anchorage, this $15 million project had received
only one state appropriation, in FY90 in the amount of
$500,000. The Heritage Park requested $800,000 each year in
FY98 and FY 99, both denied. They were currently in the
budget requesting $500,000 to assist in the final touches
to the park. Appropriation of these funds would prevent
the Heritage Park sponsors from the possibility of having
to seek bank loans which, in turn, would have to be
amortized from anticipated profits meant to be used for
future maintenance and operation.
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
NICO BUS, Administrative Services Manager, Division of
Support Services, Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs and Department of Natural Resources.
The first request was for $300,000 for completion of the
LAND STATUS GIS PROJECT. He showed maps and cards. There
were 200 townships left to be converted to this system. He
noted how operations would be streamlined under this
system.
Zero funding would create serious problems for the
department's record systems and jeopardize commitments to
streamline government operations for industry. The funding
would pay for automating land records. There were about
2000 mylars to automate, mostly in the Railbelt and
Fairbanks area.
Nico Bus then detailed the request for STATE PARK EMERGENCY
REPAIRS. Funds were needed for campground repairs such as
roads, level campsite pads, tables, firepits, circulation
trails, boating facilities and ADA improvements. Specific
repairs were needed at Johnson Lake (road repairs),
Stariski (road repairs), Kodiak area (bear resistant food
containers), Halibut Point (tables, firepits and ADA
improvements) and Stormy Lake Swim Beach (sand
replacement.)
Trailhead and trail repair funds were needed for the
Tonsina Point Trail Bridge, Point Bridget trails, Chugach
State Park trails, and TRAAK engineering and support.
There was a need for general facilities repairs to
buildings, structures and maintenance. This would address
critical repairs for state park ranger stations,
maintenance shops, volunteer support facilities, picnic
shelters and other structures. These included furnace and
generator replacements, roof repairs, and volunteer cabins
to reduce vandalism in parks.
Toilet replacement and water system upgrades were necessary
to replace old leaking toilets and to repair water systems
to provide safe drinking water for park users.
The final item was for the front section for REFORESTATION.
After logging or a forest fire, it was important to
reforest these areas to provide jobs and future resources.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
KAREN REHFELD, Director, Education Support Services,
Department of Education, testified.
BIA SCHOOL SITE CLEANUP request was $20,000 general funds.
The subcommittee proposal eliminated funding that was
targeted to begin a direct, phased program of site
remediation and cleanup at former BIA school properties.
There were approximately sixty BIA school sites. Some of
these facilities were abandoned and deteriorating offering
increased health and safety hazards to residents due to the
presence of asbestos and other hazardous materials. There
was increasing liability to the state as a result. These
funds would be used to evaluate two sites, Grayling and
Nightmute, to determine the scope of work necessary and a
cost estimate for the remediation.
The request for STATEWIDE ELECTRONIC DOORWAY (SLED) was
$100,000. The subcommittee proposal eliminated funding.
Without these funds, access to both the State and
Legislature homepages would cease to be available to
Alaskans who could not afford commercial Internet access or
who lived in communities without private Internet
providers. Access to basic medical, business and
educational sites as well as to federal government
information would also be terminated.
Distance education students from around the state, whether
they were home schooled, in correspondence programs, or
enrolled in post secondary courses, used SLED to locate
library and other resources in support of curriculum and
educational programs. SLED was a cooperative project with
the University of Alaska. The funds requested supported
telecommunications costs for the 57 communities that
accessed SLED via AkNet. Without these funds, SLED would
not be available in those communities.
HOME MODIFICATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, was
only partially funded at $50,000 of the $100,000 request.
These funds were used for home modifications for
individuals with disabilities who, as part of their
Individual Employment Plan, required these modifications in
order to attain or maintain employment. The proposed
reduction would limit the number of clients served through
this program.
Co-Chair John Torgerson asked if the BIA cleanup could be
done with storage tank assistance funds. Karen Rehfeld
responded that it could not because of the different
cleanup requirements.
Senator Lyda Green asked if the home modification program
also served modifications to schools for students. Karen
Rehfeld said it was only for adults and only in their
homes. Senator Lyda Green wanted to know how long this
program had been funded by the state. Karen Rehfeld
answered it had been for several years.
Senator Lyda Green noted other grants available in the
mental health bill and wondered if the projects could be
done under that program. Karen Rehfeld responded that she
was not familiar with that program.
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
LARRY PRIESLY, Special Assistant to the Commissioner,
Department of Revenue; PETER BUSHRE, Chief Financial
Officer, Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, Department of
Revenue; and JOHN MALLONEE, Assistant Director, Child
Support Enforcement Division, Department of Revenue; came
to the table to answer any questions. There were none.
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA
WENDY REDMOND, Vice President, University Relations,
University of Alaska testified.
The subcommittee dropped HUTCHINSON CAREER CENTER. It was
funded last year. She noted the services it provided in
vocational training for high school and older students. The
intent was that it be a bonded project by the borough with
a match from the university. If there were no funding from
the university, the project would cease. A small amount of
funding could allow it to proceed.
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER was transferred from the
Department of Commerce and Economic Development to the
University. Without the state match the program would die
and Alaska would be the only state without a center. She
noted the services the center provided.
STUDENT RECREATION CENTER AT THE JUNEAU CAMPUS. This was a
non-general fund request that would use program receipts.
DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION
BOB POE, Commissioner, and ALISON ELGEE, Deputy
Commissioner, Department of Administration came to the
table. Alison Elgee presented the department's impact
statement.
INFORMATION SERVICES FUND EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT this
allowed the department to take equipment that had become
fully depreciated and replace it once it becomes unusable.
It was done in a two-part rate. Failure to fund would not
result in reduced rates but would slow the rate to serve
the customers. She gave an example of a micro-encoding
machine that was used for warrants.
There was also a tape library the department wished to
upgrade. Not doing so would raise operating costs.
The second priority was PIONEER'S HOME HEALTH AND SAFETY
REPAIRS. This request included only the most basic
projects necessary to meet building codes. Of the $500,000
requested, the subcommittee only recommended $144,000. This
amount would only fund one project in FY00, the Sitka
Pioneer Home elevator mechanical upgrade. All other fire
and life safety corrections would go unfunded. They
included: Ketchikan Pioneers Home, fire alarm system
upgrades, $69.4 (electrical code violation); Juneau
Pioneers Home, emergency lighting, $25.5 (electrical code
violation); Sitka Pioneers Home, emergency call system
replacement, $60.0 (electrical code violation); Anchorage
Pioneers Home, sidewalk railing, $39.8 (civil code
violation); Fairbanks Pioneer Home, electrical upgrades,
$32.2 (electrical code violation), and building structural
analysis, $40.0 (architectural code violation); Palmer
Pioneers Home, building structural analysis, $30.0
(architectural code violation); all homes, emergency
capital funds, $58.1 (architectural code violation).
These projects were badly needed. The $500,000 request was
minimal capital funding and represented only the most
critical needs of the approximately $18 million in
known/existing code violations.
There had only been minimal amount of funding over the last
several years for these types of projects.
The next request was $250,000 for the BETHEL COURTHOUSE
TRANSFER. Failure to fund this request would mean that, as
opportunities to move state agencies into the Braund
Building in Bethel arose, funds would have to be identified
from the individual agencies' budgets to facilitate the
moves.
PUBLIC DEFENDER CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION INTEGRATION
PROJECT was a $400,000 request that was not recommended for
funding by the subcommittee.
Failure to fund the capital request would result in this
agency starting the year 2000 with computer equipment and
software that could not be made Y2K compliant. This would
result in reduced productivity and inefficiencies in an
agency burdened with a steadily increasing caseload.
Failure to fund this project would once again delay the
PDA's ability to coordinate with other criminal justice
agencies. This agency would not have hardware or software
capable of integrating with other elements of the system or
using data currently available. This would continue to
result in duplication of data entry and inefficient use of
the state's resources.
Additionally this agency's non-mission critical case
management system would not be Y2K compliant. The current
system was written in DOS and needs to be replaced.
Without a case management system this agency would be
reduced to reliance on paper records and hand searches,
again a time consuming and inefficient use of state
resources.
Internal agency communication would remain fragmented
without consistent access to legal research and data. This
would result in efficient case processing and additional
slowdowns in cases moving through court. This would impact
not only this agency, but all other elements of the
criminal justice system that rely on the efficient
processing of information to move cases through the system.
The INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LITERACY PROJECT provided
technology training for all State Of Alaska employees as
well as University of Alaska staff, faculty and students by
delivering on-line training to their desktop at work and at
home. Established to meet statewide training needs by the
Telecommunications Information Council in FY99, it was a
partnership between a private company, the Gartner Group,
the University of Alaska and the state.
Currently, over 4,000 students were enrolled in the online
courses with new courses and students added each day.
Courses were available in all the most commonly used
software such as MS WORD, EXCEL and PowerPoint as well as
highly technical network and database management programs.
The $175,000 would access a $4.5 million grant package to
enhance information technology management and skills.
Eliminating the state's contribution to the partnership
would mean that the state's most cost effective means of
training state employees in the rapidly changing world of
information technology would not be available. Necessary
employee training either would get done or more expensive
options would be used.
Currently, 3.345 users enrolled in courses. Travel
conference fees and training fees were being eliminated
from department budgets.
The next item was the $500,000 request for BANDWIDTH
INCREASE, which was not funded in the CS. The purpose of
the project was to provide general funds for capacity
increases to the state's network. Normally, capacity
increases were funded through interagency receipts and
rates for services. However, at the time rates were
calculated and budgets prepared, agencies were not able to
provide sufficient information regarding the projected
impact of new applications on the state's network.
This one-time capital request would provide necessary
contributed capital for capacity increases until better
projections, analysis and alternatives could be identified
for providing data network services in rural areas and
those solutions could be incorporated into ITG services and
rates.
Without funding, in order to meet the required bandwidth
needs, agencies would see a significant rate increase due
to the reliance on telecommunications as well as new
applications deployed over the network. Much of this new
dependency on bandwidth was the growth in automated
processes encouraged by budget constraints.
SATELLITE INTERCONNECTION PROJECT EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT AND
REPAIR was a request for $150,000 that the subcommittee did
not recommend funding.
The SIP provided essential news, weather, government, and
educational information to all Alaskans through satellite
delivery of several video and audio channels to 220 earth
stations throughout Alaska. It carried Gavel to Gavel, the
Alaska Rural Communications Service and Ready to Learn
programming.
It had a history of broadening services while reducing
costs, taking advantage of the latest digital compression
technology and integrated management across agencies and
institutions.
Funding would provide support for long-standing equipment
repair problems with the system and start-up funds for
project management to ensure self-sufficiency and cost-
benefit. There had been no funding for four years for
management or for repair and replacement of earth stations
and transmitters. The system charge-back from communities
had been less than effective, serving as a deterrent for
trouble reporting, creating a deficit and weakening the
systems' overall integrity.
State funding would leverage non-state funding.
Failure to fund would place the Emergency Alert System at
risk.
The next request was for $615,000 for the LAND MOBILE RADIO
CONVERSION. The plan was to convert all two-way radio
systems to allow interoperability of two-way radio
resources at the federal, state, and local levels so that
response to life threatening situations could be quick and
efficient. It was planned for completion in 2006.
Meanwhile there was an immediate problem with communication
between different crews. Bob Poe added that during the
Miller's Reach fire crews couldn't communicate.
Failure to fund this request would jeopardize federal grant
monies that required a matching grant.
Senator Dave Donley asked if there could only be one
pioneer home project other than the Sitka elevators, what
would it be. Alison Elgee listed several requests and
noted the specific code violations. Senator Dave Donley
repeated his question of what one would she choose. Alison
said there were no funds to deal with unanticipated
contingency emergencies. That was what she would choose.
Senator Loren Leman referred to the Public Defenders Office
request in which she stated that the equipment was not Y2K
compliant. He wanted to know the seriousness of the
problem. Alison Elgee said the biggest problem was that the
systems were unable to run the programs that were Y2K
compatible.
Senator Gary Wilken was under the impression that there was
money left over from last year for some of the pioneer home
problems. Alison replied that there was but it was not
adequate for the critical needs.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DEBORAH SEDWICK, Commissioner, Department of Commerce and
Economic Development testified.
The ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM provided a
one to one match to a grant from the Economic Development
Administration to provide planning and implementation funds
for a variety of economic development activities and
programs. It was an integral part of the Division of Trade
and Development's developmental services and budget. The
EDA grant would likely focus on rural development and
economic diversification. Without the requested $100,000
appropriation, the state would be unable to obtain the
federal funds.
The other request was $200,000 in AIDEA receipts for the
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM. This program
had been the cornerstone of the department since its
inception. She listed the number of grants given and the
amount of non-state matching funds garnered.
In FY95 $35,000 was granted to the Metlakatla salmon bake
facility. As a result the community was able to capitalize
on the tourism market. They will now be able to use HUD
funds to build an artist center next to the salmon bake.
Norton Sound Halibut Processing Plant was another project.
The plant contributed a $35,000 payroll to the community.
BREAK 2:18 PM / 2:38 PM
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
DAN EASTON, Director, Division of Facility Construction and
Operation, Department of Environmental Conservation
testified.
The first item was the WATER QUALITY project request for
$125,000 in general funds.
The state did not have primacy for water quality decisions.
Obtaining primacy meant that decisions about permits for
use of state waters would be made by the state not the
federal government. The regulated industry had stated a
clear preference that the state pursues assumption of
primacy for water quality.
Preparing a plan for primacy assumption was no small task.
The state must work closely with regulated industry,
environmental groups and the federal government.
Regulations must be prepared, fee structures determined
staffing plans prepared and a transition plan from the
federal government to the state prepared, submitted and
approved.
With denial of this increment, the state would not pursue a
plan for assumption of primacy.
MIKE CONWAY, Director, Division of Statewide Public
Service, Department of Environmental Conservation spoke to
the VILLAGE SAFE WATER request for $219,000.
The Department of Environmental Conservation's FY00 capital
budget request for the Village Safe Water Program included
engineering feasibility studies in 27 communities and
construction projects in 44 communities. This represented
almost a forty-percent increase over the number of projects
in the FY99 capital budget. The increase in projects
resulted from a large increase in federal funding for
village sanitation.
The Division of Administrative Services provided
administrative support to Facility Construction and
Operation for its grant programs. The number of grants
issued by FCO increases substantially. Requirements for
frequency of payments were also increased at the direction
of the Division of Legislative Audit. Existing
administrative staff was fully utilized. The department
would not be able to meet express payment requests and
timelines for the FCO program without the additional
administrative position.
FCO project managers worked directly with the communities
and other state and federal agencies to complete the
projects. Each project was assigned to a single engineer
who was responsible for getting the project started,
guiding the community to an appropriate project design,
helping the community while safeguarding the investment of
state and federal funding as the construction progressed,
and ultimately seeing that the project got built and
operated by the community.
The subcommittee proposal suggested that the department
could accomplish this work with contracts rather than
employees. The department would pursue contracts but could
not state for sure that the contracting option would be
successful.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
REMOND HENDERSON, Director, Division of Administrative
Services, Department of Labor. There were three requests
and the subcommittee recommended funding for all. He was
available to answer any questions. There were none.
DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS
There was no testimony given for this department which
received 100% funding on its requests.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES
Co-Chair John Torgerson realized the department had not
seen any amendment and that it was difficult for them to
comment on any potential plans. He said he would reserve
time at a later meeting for them to comment on the
amendments.
This concluded department testimony for the capital budget.
Co-Chair John Torgerson announced the 6:00 PM evening to
hear public testimony.
ADJOURNED
Senator Torgerson recessed the meeting at 2:45 PM. Minutes
for public testimony on the FY00 capital budget are
separate.
SFC-99 (30) 5/5/99
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